Sepsis: in search of cure

Abstract

Introduction: Sepsis is a complex inflammatory disorder believed to originate from an infection by any types of microbes and/or their products. It is the leading cause of death in intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the globe. The mortality rates depend both on the severity of infection and the host's response to infection.

Methods: Literature survey on pathobiology of sepsis in general and failure of more than hundred clinical trials conducted so far in search of a possible cure for sepsis resulted in the preparation of this manuscript.

Findings: Sepsis lacks a suitable animal model that mimics human sepsis. However, based on the results obtained in animal models of sepsis, clinical trials conducted so far have been disappointing. Although involvement of multiple mediators and pathways in sepsis has been recognized, only few components are being targeted and this could be the major reason behind the failure of clinical trials.

Conclusion: Inability to recognize a single critical mediator of sepsis may be the underlying cause for the poor therapeutic intervention of sepsis. Therefore, sepsis is still considered as a disease-in search of cure.

Keywords: Activated protein C; Cytokines; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS); Sepsis; Toll-like receptors.